Tuesday, February 16, 2010

William B. Wilson is my 2nd great-grandfather. Click here to see a photo of William B. Wilson and here to see information on his family.

William B. Wilson joined the Civil War on 12 Feb 1862 in Weston, Collin County, Texas. He was in Company "K" 6th Texas Calvary, CSA and served for over three years or until the end of the war. Since he was living in Oklahoma when he applied for the pension, William received a small confederate pension from the state of Oklahoma, just before he died. Several documents from the pension file are shown below.

The following information about 6th Cavalry Regiment is from the Civil War Soldiers & Sailors System website maintained by the National Park Service:6th Cavalry Regiment [also called 2nd Regiment] was organized with 1,150 men at Dallas, Texas, in September, 1861. Many of the men were from Dallas, McKinney, Waco, Austin, and Lancaster, and Bell County. The unit skirmished in the Indian Territory, fought at Elkhorn Tavern, then moved west of the Mississippi River. It contained 803 effectives in the spring of 1862 and was dismounted during the battles at Corinth and Hatchie Bridge. Here the regiment reported 148 killed, wounded, or missing. Assigned to Ross' Brigade, it served with the Army of Tennessee during the Atlanta Campaign, was active in Tennessee, and ended the war in Mississippi attached to the Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and East Louisiana. The field officers were Colonels Lawrence S. Ross, B. Warren Stone, and Jack Wharton; Lieutenant Colonels John S. Griffith and Peter F. Ross; and Robert M. White and Stephen B. Wilson.

The following quotes are from interviews with grandchildren of William Wilson.
1. Champ Means, 29 Nov 1979:"Grandpa did fight in the Civil War in the Cavalry. He furnished his own horse which ran away in the first battle through enemy lines and back through without injury to him or the horse. After the war he was discharged and received small pension."
2. 25 Jul 1986, grandaughter, Margaret Means Williams: "Grandpa Wilson was in the Civil War for 4 years. When I asked him if he killed any Yankees he said, 'I killed as many Yankees as they killed me.' Grandpa Wilson is buried at Reck Cemetery, there is no headstone."
3. 14 Aug 1986 with gr-son, Joe Baily Means:"Grandpa Wilson received a Civil War pension. He fought in 4 or 5 major battles. He never got shot at all. He lived in Georgia and Tennessee before Texas. Grandpa was called Willie."

Pension Records from the State of Oklahoma

for William B. Wilson

Note: these copies are from microfilmed copies of the pension records and are difficult to read. There are notes or abstract below several of the documents.

Name given as William Benton Wilson

W. B. Wilson of Carter County, P.O. Reck

(First Application) 16 Aug 1915

Age: 77; Born: Tennessee;

How long in Oklahoma: 35 years;

Residence: Reck, Carter County;

Occupation: Farmer - not able to work; Physical condition: Feeble;

State served from: Texas;

How long did you serve: Feb 1862 to end of war;

Company name: Company "K" 6th Texas Cavalry

Signed W.B. Wilson, Carter Co., Texas, 16 Aug 1915

Affidavit by C. Hoff of Beckham County, Oklahoma, 17 Apr 1917

"C. Hoff ... was well acquainted with the said W. B. Wilson during the time from and since the year 1857, that he knows the said W.B. Wilson enlisted in the Confederate army, at Weston, Collin County, Texas, on or about the year of 1862, that he was in battle in the west and that he was later transferred to east of the Mississippi River, and that he returned home from the army in the spring of 1865. Signed C. (his X mark) Hoff, Witness: Vina Cox”

(Note: C. Hoff is the brother of Mary Pollly Wilson and so brother-in-law of William B. Wilson. Vina Cox is the daughter of C. Hoff (Cosley Hoff).)

State of Arkansas, County of Washington, 1 Jul 1918, Affidavit by R. F. House: He states that "he was well acquainted with applicant W.B. Wilson and have known him for about 70 years...and that he (Wilson) was a Confederate soldier in Co "K" Regiment of 6th Texas Calvary" and served from 1862 to 1865, then honorably discharged. Signed R. F. House

The last time I was doing genealogical research at the Texas State Archives in Austin, I decided to check the index of the Governor's Pardons for all of my Texas surnames. I found a few more surprises than I expected. William B. Wilson is my 2nd great-grandfather. Click here to see a photo of William B. Wilson and here to see information on his family.

On 20 Feb 1888, W. B. Wilson was convicted of Horse Theft (a serious crime in Texas) in Collin County, Texas and sentenced to five (5) years in the Texas State Penitentiary. He was incarcerated in Rusk Penitentiary.

An application for pardon was started in behalf of W. B. Wilson in the spring of 1889. There were numerous letters requesting a pardon -- from the sheriff, judge, county attorney, etc. Also a petition signed by over 200 residents of Collin.

The application states a hardship case for William B. Wilson's family. His wife, Polly, was blind and had a large family to care for. He also had an aged father to help care for. One of the documents in the pardon stated that W. B. Wilson was a resident of the Chickasaw Nation in Indian Territory. Maybe that is why I have not been able to find the William Wilson family in census records for 1860-1870-1880.

The following petition for pardon had four sheets of signatures.

Over 200 men in Collin County signed the petition.

Only the first sheet is shown.

Take note of the notation at the bottom of the following sheet. I am not sure if our Grandpa Wilson thought he had received the pardon and left, or if he was tired of waiting for the pardon to go through, or just what!?! But, whatever the reason, he left in January 1890 before the pardon was granted in May of 1890 and it was considered an "escape" from prison.

Levi Taylor Ball was born on 17 Jan 1847 in Trimble County, Kentucky. He was the son of Henry & Nancy Ball. He died on 20 Aug 1919 in Smith Center, Smith, Kansas. He was buried on 21 Aug 1919 in Fairview Cemetery, Smith, Kansas.

Levi served in the Civil War, Company C, Regiment 125, 10 Indiana Calvary in 1863/1865 in American Civil War. Records of the GAR Post at Hopkins, Missouri dated February 10, 1900, read: Levi Ball is by occupation a farmer, entered the service on December 9, 1863 as a Private in Company C, Regiment 125 of the 10 Indiana Calvary and was finally discharged on August 31, 1865 by reason of the close of the war. After the war, he was a member of the GAR - Grand Army of the Republic - a fraternal organization composed of veterans of the Union Army.

Levi married Susanah A. McNeil, daughter of William S. McNeil and Sarah Margaret Cole, on 29 Aug 1876 in Ottawa, Missouri. Susanah was born on 19 Nov 1849 in Parke, Indiana. She died on 23 Jan 1930 in Smith Center, Smith, Kansas. She was buried on 26 Jan 1930 in Fairview Cemetery, Smith, Kansas.

They had the following children: 1) William H. Ball was born on 10 Jul 1877 in Missouri, United States. He died in 1878. 2) Noah E. Ball was born on 24 Nov 1879 in Smith County, Kansas. Noah married Addie Higsby on 23 Jun 1902. They were living as husband & wife in the 1905 Kansas State Census, but were divorced by the 1910 US census. Noah died in Jan 1915.
3) Clara N. Ball was born on 26 Oct 1882 in Smith County, Kansas. She died in May 1888 in Smith County, Kansas.

The following is a copy of the original William S. McNeil Family record. It was found in papers belonging to his grandaughter, Minnie Pearl Hatfield Wilson. It appears to have been written in about 1889.

The back side:

William S. McNeil was born on 21 Jul 1818 in Ohio, United States. He died on 5 Feb 1894 in Cedarville, Smith, Kansas. He was buried in Feb 1894 in Cedar Cemetery, Smith, Kansas. William married Sarah Margaret Cole daughter of Nathan Cole Jr. and Anna Margaret Goble on 17 Oct 1847 in , Parke, Indiana. Sarah was born on 21 Feb 1826 in , Sullivan, Indiana. She died in 1905 in Smith Center, Smith, Kansas. She was buried in 1905 in Cedarville Cemetery, Smith, Kansas.

They had the following children: 1) Eliza Jane McNeil was born on 12 Aug 1848 in Parke, Indiana. She died about 1856. 2) Susanah A. McNeil was born on 19 Nov 1849 in Parke, Indiana. She died on 23 Jan 1930 in Smith Center, Smith, Kansas. She was buried on 26 Jan 1930 in Fairview Cemetery, Smith, Kansas. Susanah married Levi Taylor Ball son of Henry Ball and Nancy Wise on 29 Aug 1876 in Ottawa, Missouri. Levi was born on 17 Jan 1847 in , Trimble, Kentucky. He died on 20 Aug 1919 in Smith Center, Smith, Kansas. He was buried on 21 Aug 1919 in Fairview Cemetery, Smith, Kansas. 3) Thomas C. McNeil was born on 21 Jan 1852 in Terre Haute, Parke, Indiana. Thomas never married. He died on 18 Nov 1923 in Smith Center, Smith, Kansas. He was buried on 20 Nov 1923 in Fairview Cemetery, Smith, Kansas. 4) Roxie Ellen McNeil was born on 18 Feb 1857 in Hopkins, Nodaway, Missouri. She died on 22 Feb 1936 in Smith Center, Smith, Kansas. She was buried on 24 Feb 1936 in Fairview Cemetery, Smith, Kansas. Roxie married Albert R. Reed on 5 Dec 1878 in Cedar, Smith, Kansas. Albert was born on 28 Apr 1856 in Malvern, , Ohio. He died on 18 Dec 1928 in , Smith, Kansas.5) Nancy Abbagail McNeil was born on 23 May 1860 in Hopkins, Nodaway, Missouri. She died on 18 Jan 1946 in Egbert, Laramie, Wyoming. She was buried on 20 Jan 1946 in Pine Bluffs Cemetery, Laramie, Wyoming. Nancy married Martin Monroe Hatfield son of John Martin Hatfield Jr. and Martha Jay on 1 Jan 1879 in Harvey Twp., Smith, Kansas. Martin was born on 18 Apr 1857 in Boone, Iowa, United States. He died on 31 May 1918 in Dove Creek, Dolores, Colorado. He was buried on 4 Jun 1918 in Dove Creek, Dolores, Colorado. 6) Nathan H. McNeil was born on 25 Aug 1864 in Bedford, Taylor, Iowa. He died on 21 Apr 1939 in Lawrence, Douglas, Kansas. He was buried on 24 Apr 1939 in Douglas, Kansas. Nathan married Susan Emma Hoyt daughter of Joseph King Hoyt and Mary Jane Lukehart on 24 Nov 1889 in Holdrege, Phelps, Nebraska. Susan was born on 27 Feb 1871 in Illinois. 7)James Harmon McNeil was born on 18 Dec 1867 in Hopkins, Nodaway, Missouri. He died on 16 Jan 1936 in Cedar, Smith, Kansas. He was buried on 19 Jan 1936 in Cedar Cemetery, Smith, Kansas. James married Minnie B. Newbrey daughter of George Franklin Newbrey and Margaret E. Dear on 14 Oct 1896 in , Smith, Kansas. Minnie was born on 9 Feb 1876 in Iowa, United States. She died on 30 May 1941 in , Smith, Kansas. She was buried in Cedarville Cemetery, Smith, Kansas.

Levi Taylor Ball was married to Susanah McNeil, sister to our ancestor, Nancy Abigail McNeil Hatfield.
Levi served in the Civil War, Company C, Regiment 125, 10 Indiana Calvary in 1863/1865 in American Civil War. Records of the GAR Post at Hopkins, Missouri dated February 10, 1900, read: Levi Ball is by occupation a farmer, entered the service on December 9, 1863 as a Private in Company C, Regiment 125 of the 10 Indiana Calvary and was finally discharged on August 31, 1865 by reason of the close of the war. After the war, Levi joined the GAR - Grand Army of the Republic. The GAR was a fraternal organization composed of veterans of the Union Army.

Transfer Card of the Grand Army of the Republic for L. T. W. Ball (Levi Taylor Ball)

These copies from the original Ball Family Bible were made in 1970 when I was given permission to briefly see the bible. Sorry, but back then I did not know I should make a copy of the title page of the bible. But according to a deposition by Levi T. Ball in his Civil War pension file, the bible was published in 1851 (see bottom of post). Bible history: The bible most likely came into the possession of the McNeil family through the Susanah McNeil Ball, wife of Levi Taylor Ball. The bible then eventually came into the possession of Susanah's sister, the Nancy McNeil Hatfield family. They added McNeil and Hatfield family information to the bible, in the form of family records written on loose sheets of paper, obituaries, etc. Lillie Hatfield Smith had the bible in the late 1950's and left the bible with her sister, Minnie Hatfield Wilson, of Cortez, Colorado. After Minnie died in 1966, the bible was given to her son, Clayton Pat Wilson. His widow, Anna Wilson of Oregon, is still in possession of the bible. It has not been cared for and has not been kept in good condition. The extended family has not had access to it. A few years ago, a grandson of Anna Wilson was permitted to make copies. He said the title page of the bible was missing by then.

Ball, McNeil, Hatfield Family Bible Pages

The following pages appear to have been torn out of another bible and stuck into the Ball-McNeil Bible.

"My age is 65, having been born January 17, 1847...The bible from which the date of my birth as above given was taken, was my father's family bible, the first one he ever had in his house, and the only one. The record of the date of my birth is in my father's handwriting. He and mother told us that they made the records of our births at the time each child was born. At the time of my father's death the bible passed into the hands of my brother Benjamin Ball. After his death, two or three years ago, his daughter, Laura, husband's name not known, now living at Bedford, Iowa, gave me the bible. I had six brothers and five sisters, all of whom are now dead. Their names and the dates of their births as given by my fathers bible are as follows:

Elizabeth, born July 24, 1821Manlinday, born April 13, 1823Calamata, born March 3, 1825Benjamin L, born January 16, 1828James H, born February 1, 1830William E., born October 3, 1831Daniel W. born December 27, 1833Mary, born April 10, 1836David W., born August 6, 1838Nancy, born March 1, 1841James H., born February 18, 1843Phebe, born July 26, 1844Levi T. W., born January 17, 1847Both of the children named James Henry died in infancyWhen I enlisted I was 16 years of age but my age was put down as 18. I enlisted December 9, 1863, in Co. C 10. Ind. Vol. Cav. and was discharged August 31, 1865 as shown by a copy of my discharge certificate...I am a married man - my wife's maiden name was Susana A. McNeil. We were married August 27, 1876 near Hopkins, Mo., by Rev. Edward Otis. Neither of us had ever been previously married...Since you have called my attention to the fact that father's bible was not printed until 1851, I do not know what to say. My understanding always was that my father made those birth records at the time of birth of each child. The records are in my father's handwriting; I can swear to that..."signed Levi T. W. Ball

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My ancestors were the colonists, frontiersmen, pioneers, and cowboys - with a few scallywags thrown in - who helped settle and establish America. Theclmroots blogwas created to share family history stories and research findings, so that grandchildren and descendants may come to know their ancestors.

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